The Fundamental Principles of Islam The religion of Islam dates back to the 7th century AD and the life of its founder, Muhammad of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Islam is an Arabic word that means: to make something safe and secure, to make something healthy and whole, to enter into peace and tranquility, and to surrender to something other than oneself. A follower of Islam is called a Muslim. In the Islamic religion, this requires belief in certain fundamental principles, which include the Articles of Faith and the Five Pillars of Worship. These two combined form the Islamic creed. I- The Articles of Faith The term monotheism is significant for Islam, in the sense of belief in one God. The first article of faith in Islam is the belief that there is no other deity other than God (Allah) and that Muhammad is the messenger of God. It is strictly forbidden to believe in a certain number of gods or in the extension of God's spirituality to any person. Islam rejects the human points that Christians and Jews have added to their doctrines, such as the incarnation of God. It has been estimated that over ninety percent of Muslim theology deals with the implications of Oneness. God, despite being One, is referred to by ninety-nine names (Fisher 233). Believing in the Angels of God is the second article of faith in Islam. These angels are purely spiritual and glorious beings created by God. These angels are sinless. They do not require food, drink or sleep. They have neither physical desires nor material needs (“Islamic Way”). Angels spend their time in God's kindness. Each angel is assigned a specific obligation. Each human being is assigned two angels who act as guardians and recorders of the individual's actions, both good and bad ("Islamic Path"). Even if we cannot see angels with our...... middle of paper......y of life. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy and forgiveness, and the majority have nothing to do with the extremely serious events that have been associated with their faith” (“IslamiCity”). Works Cited Fisher, Mary Pat. Living religions. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2009. Print. "The Hajj, the journey of a lifetime". Calliope. vol. 7 Number 3. January 1997. 38. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Network. November 17, 2011. “What is Islam?” IslamiCity. January 2001. Web. November 17, 2011. "Pillars of Islam." Islamic path. WorldPress, 2009. Web. November 17, 2011The Noble Quran: Translation into Roman Characters with Arabic Text and English Translation. Trans. Al-Hilali, Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din and Khan, Muhammad Muhsin. Saudi Arabia: Dar-Us-Salam, 1996. Print.